All posts tagged: Getting VISAs

Australian Tourist Visa Process For Indians

Published by Dev

After dealing with a long list of documents, a tiring visa application and high-rejection chances, three months ago, while applying for a Schengen visa for Europe, when it came to planning a tourist visa for Australia, things felt pretty easier and uncomplicated. And that was not just me. A few other people, I spoke with, to get an idea about their experience, moreover gave an impression that Australia has always been humble with its visa process, even for Indians. Though of course, if you compare a Thai or a Malaysian visa process for tourists, Australia still demands a better planning and a little more paperwork. Also Read: Tips For Australian Tourist Visa. What Documents You Need For Australian Visa Australian embassy, on its website, has mentioned that it discourages any prepaid hotel booking and reserved flight tickets, before the issuance of your visa. It moreover doesn’t want any health insurance, as you need while applying for a visa for US and Schengen European countries. However, the documents you may need, based on my practical knowledge — the …

Australian Tourist Visa: Practical Tips

Published by Dev

If there’s one thing that annoys me as traveller, thanks to my weak Indian passport, it is — applying for a visa. You want to travel to Europe, and you’ve all the money and time it requires, you still need to go through a lot of hassle and paperwork. Though of course, some countries are more reluctant, and some, fairly welcoming, the unapologetic fact that you still need to waste your time and money — is always a big disappointment. And my disappointment turned into dismay, very recently, when it took more than one month for the Australian embassy to give me a tourist visa. Though the folks in the embassy were quite humble and allowed me multiple entries for a period of one year, the price I had to pay for it was quite startling. Australian Tourist VISA Was Expensive With most Southeast Asian countries charging around 2 to 4 thousand Rupees, Canada charging about 6.5 thousand, and 26 Schengen countries in Europe around only 6 thousand, Australia, God knows why has set its own …

Backpacking in Europe Or Backpacking In Southeast Asia? Tips For Indian Backpackers!

Published by Dev

Europe and Southeast Asia can be completely different when it comes to travelling, and the many obvious dissimilarities like the differences in the cost of travelling, visa complications are no alien to us either. Southeast Asia offers easy visa possibilities, whereas Europe on the other hand, makes it tougher to get one. So if you’re planning a trip abroad, and are confused about what would be a better choice for you, personally — is it holidaying in Europe or holidaying in Thailand, or Bali — then these four but more peculiar differences will help you make your mind better. Visas If money is no foundation, and you’re planning to cover a few numbers of countries in one trip, it makes more sense to backpack in Europe, because you’re only required to apply for a Schengen Visa and you’re free to cross 28 borders in Europe, without having to worry about border security. Southeast Asia, on the other hand, requires visa formality for every country. Though most nations in Southeast Asia give Indians the option of Visa …

Schengen Visa For Indians: How To Apply And Get It Yourself

Published by Dev

I know that Indians are the vulnerable bunch, because of their weak Indian passport. They are required to submit hundreds of documents, prove their existence and go through a process so mentally tormenting, that getting a new birth certificate might apparently feel easier than applying for a tourist visa. And when it comes to Schengen visa things become even more complicated. Perhaps that’s the reason why a majority of tourists contact a travel agency and pay more money. They do it out of helplessness. For a quick rescue. They opt for travel packages and pre-paid itineraries, even if that meant bleeding unnecessary money, and exploring silly places abroad. To tell you the truth, I also considered that option before going through the process myself. But as I pondered upon the idea and calculated the prospects, I realized that it will be a lost deal, especially because I was on a limited budget. I mean we anyway pay over 1500 Rupees to Vfs that is nothing more than a cheap middleman, so why pay more to …

Weak Indian Passport: Making Our Travel Life Tougher Everyday!

Published by Dev

Indian Passport: You Weak, Useless Thing! After living in the United Kingdoms for a few years, travelling a bit of the world, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is: being an Indian is a proud thing. People around the world like Indians, respect Indians and are always eager to know more about Indians. While I was travelling in Southeast Asia last year, there were so many instances which made it so much easier for me to connect with others – locals and travellers alike – as I told them I’m from India. Bollywood and Yoga made my identity even more interesting. But feeling cooler and wanted is one thing, and feeling empowered is the other. Sure my identity, as an Indian made me feel good, perhaps even respectful, but it did not make me feel empowered – not as long as I held a Navy Blue coloured passport saying ‘The Republic of India’. Indian Passport Makes Me Feel Weak, Forget About Being Empowered There’s no denying the fact that Indian passport is embarrassingly weak – …

Thailand Visa On Arrival: Not A Great Thing Anymore

Published by Dev

Earlier this year I decided to travel to Thailand on Visa on Arrival as it appeared like a good deal – cheaper and quicker. You land in the country whenever you wanted, avoiding the long embassy applications. Just pay 1000 Baht (INR 2000) at the airport (as the Visa fee) and be done with it. You’re free to wander across the country for 15 happy days. Well, it’s not as good and convenient as it seems! And I realised that as soon as I landed at the airport in Bangkok. After having a terrible 3 hours layover in Chennai, in India, starting 1 in the night, I reached Suvarnabhumi Airport around 7 in the morning. I was already pretty much cracked up, due to lack of sleep, and I realised that the application process, at Suvarnabhumi, might take another few good hours, before I can take any rest. Long Queues For Thai Visa On Arrival Before I travelled to Thailand, the internet said that Visa on Arrival (VOA) counters can have long queues, but odd morning/evening can be different. My experience …

Cambodia Tourist Visa: Why I Say Visa On Arrival?

Published by Dev

If you think there’s a list of countries that fall under the category of Countries-With-Super-Easy-Visa-Policies, Cambodia has a place in it. I landed at Siem Reap international airport in Cambodia at 2 in the afternoon and by 2:15 I was through. This was when I had to apply for Visa on Arrival. Thailand Visa on Arrival, for its long queues, had me discouraged, but god bless Cambodia and its people who made it up to me. In 15 minutes, after my AirAsia flight landed, I was on the other side of the airport, with a fresh 30-day visa on arrival in my hand. Getting a visa stamp for Cambodia is super easy, and quick. I remember I did not wait more than 3 minutes at the visa on arrival desk and I get my beautifully-stamped passport back. I totally loved how the airport officials swiftly dealt with my application, in addition to some 30 other applications who landed together with me. Though that’s a different question that they’re, at their part, a little careless, I was still …